Exiled oligarch Khodorkovsky accuses Slovakias Fico of serving Kremlin interests
**Mikhail Khodorkovsky, once Russia’s richest man and a former Putin ally, accuses Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico of being a Kremlin tool in an exclusive interview with Slovak news outlet *Aktuality.sk*.**
Khodorkovsky, now one of Putin’s most vocal critics, warns that Russia is waging a "hybrid war" against Europe and claims Fico’s policies actively undermine European unity. "Fico is an instrument that fractures Europe," he states, arguing that Moscow exploits divisions within the EU to weaken collective resistance. The interview, published today, marks Khodorkovsky’s latest intervention in European politics, where he has increasingly positioned himself as a commentator on Kremlin strategy.
The former oligarch, who spent a decade in Russian prisons after challenging Putin’s authority, frames Fico’s government as part of a broader Kremlin playbook. He points to Slovakia’s recent shifts—including opposition to further Ukraine aid and skepticism toward NATO—as evidence of Moscow’s influence. Khodorkovsky’s remarks align with growing concerns in Brussels and Washington about Russian disinformation campaigns targeting Central Europe, though Fico’s office has not responded to the allegations.
Khodorkovsky’s critique comes as Russia escalates pressure on multiple fronts. Moscow has banned imports of flowers, cognac, and mineral water from Armenia, a move widely seen as retaliation against Yerevan’s pivot toward the West . Meanwhile, the Kremlin has filed a complaint with the UN’s International Court of Justice, accusing Baltic states of violating the rights of ethnic Russians—a tactic analysts say is designed to justify future interference .
The Czech intelligence chief, Michal Koudelka, has warned that Russia may launch a limited attack in the Baltics to test NATO’s resolve, potentially triggering a wider crisis . Such a move would follow the Kremlin’s pattern of probing Western defenses, from cyberattacks to hybrid warfare.
Against this backdrop, Khodorkovsky’s intervention underscores the Kremlin’s broader strategy: exploiting political fractures in Europe to erode support for Ukraine and undermine transatlantic unity. His comments also reflect a shift in his own role—from imprisoned dissident to a public intellectual shaping the debate on Russia’s ambitions.
While Khodorkovsky’s influence in Russia remains limited, his warnings resonate in European capitals already grappling with rising populism and Kremlin-backed disinformation. The interview arrives as EU foreign ministers discuss Russia’s push to position the bloc as a mediator in the Ukraine war—a role Estonia’s foreign minister, Margus Tsahkna, dismisses as a ploy to avoid further sanctions .
Khodorkovsky’s trajectory—from Putin’s inner circle to exile—mirrors the broader unraveling of Russia’s post-Soviet order. His latest remarks suggest the battle for Europe’s future may be fought as much in the political arena as on the battlefield.
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